Equestrian

 

Equestrian News - October 2009

The Inter Schools Show Jumping competitions are already underway. We got our campaign off to a positive start on Saturday October 17th at Ballinamona Equestrian Centre, Co. Waterford. The team of Sam Lynch, Tiger Waite, Daniel Wathen and Simon McCarthy gave a good account of themselves, with Simon on an impressive double clear while Sam, Tiger and Daniel each had just two fences down. It was an encouraging start and one we hope to improve on in our next outing.

 

 

Equestrian News - 2008/2009

This year, with our 6th years (Gerard Murphy and Clare Stead) taking time out to concentrate on their exams, we had one team represent the school at the Ballyrafter Inter Secondary Schools Showjumping Competition in January.  The team, Sam Lynch Tiger Waite, Frazer Browne and Daniel Wathen jumped very well on the day but didn’t progress to the finals.
The same team jumped in the Maryville Interschools and although they improved on their last outing didn’t feature among the winners.
Thank you to students and parents for all their effort, for taking the time to come to training sessions and for making themselves available to represent their school in competitions.
  -  P.S. 

Inter-school Show Jumping Championship 2006/2007

Last year (2006/7) Inter-school Show Jumping Championship held in Ballyrafter, Co. Waterford  the school sent two teams.

One of the teams made it to the second round against very stiff opposition and went on to score 2 double clear rounds.  It was a a very tight indoor course much better suited to ponies than horses.  Some very short strides.  The fences were also on the small size.  The first round was 80-90cm and the second round 90-100cm and the width was 110cm.

Some of our team results

Melian Griffith	Double Clear
Sophie McClay	Double Clear
Sarah Collins	Clear and Refusal
Lilian Hurley	Refusal and Clear
Gerard Murphy	Clear and one down
Clare Stead	Clear and two poles down
Mollie Kenedy	Clear and a fall

 

All-Ireland Inter-Schools Hunter Trials

In March last year, Kenneth Baker and I competed in the All-Ireland inter-schools hunter trials in Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny. There were over a hundred people in the senior individuals, which was our class! For those of you who don’t know, Hunter-Trials are when 20 fences with obstacles of all sorts from water jumps to hunting banks, knockables and racing hurdles that horse and rider must jump in the quickest time possible.

Having trained for months, we were excited to finally complete at a substantial level. On arrival, we walked the course, tacked up and put on our Midleton College colours. We were ready to go.

I completed my round with a good time. The ground conditions were really bad so I was shocked when I made it through the finish line with no faults as not many people achieved this. Then it was Ken’s turn to go. He did really well to get his young horse around such a tricky course, especially after having such a traumatic journey to the competition. That night Ken and I were pleased to find out we were some of the few riders to get through from start to finish and I came 11th. We were delighted.

Hopefully we will be able to compete next year as well as it was great to get the College’s name seen in the horse world again. Maybe next time we can do twice as well.